Background:
Bivalirudin decreased bleeding and improved mortality in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the HORIZON trial. Currently there is limited data regarding the benefits of bivalirudin in unselected STEMI patients in real-world clinical practice.
Methods:
We reviewed consecutive STEMI patients at a large regional STEMI referral center from June 2009 to December 2011. All patients received aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors. In-hospital complications, length of stay (LOS), total variable costs, 1-year cardiovascular readmissions, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and mortality were compared for: bivalirudin alone, heparin alone and either medication with IIb/IIIa inhibitors.
Results:
Among 759 STEMI PCI cases, 208 (27.4%) received bivalirudin, 216 (28.5%) heparin and 335 (44.1%) IIb/IIIa, including only 48 cases with bivalirudin. Bivalirudin alone had significantly lower in-hospital complications, bleeding events, mortality and 1-year MACE and mortality (p<0.05 for all) (Figure). There were no significant differences in LOS (median 2.6 vs. 2.8 vs. 2.9 days; p=0.065), total variable costs (median $9,303 vs. $9,242 vs. $9,860; p=0.15) or readmissions within 1 year.
Conclusions:
In an unselected population of STEMI patients, those treated with bivalirudin had lower in-hospital complications and lower 1-year MACE and mortality rates compared to patients receiving heparin or IIb/IIIa inhibitors. These results provide further support for bivalirudin use in STEMI patients.
Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE) as a Predictor of Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction